Our store in Ledbury is stocked to the rafters with not only our own produce, but cider and other drinks from 25+ other local producers from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire (and occaisional guest ciders from further afield!)

Cropsharers

We run two novel orchard schemes - Dragon Orchard Cropsharers and a Sponsor a Tree scheme - click on the menu for details

Events

We host a number of tours and events throughout the year, from orchard walks and cider tastings to poetry festival events and more... See our events page for more details.

Ellis Bitter cider apple.

A full bittersweet variety, with lots of tannins and rich flavours - a lovely component in many of our blended ciders

Our store in Ledbury is stocked to the rafters with not only our own produce, but cider and other drinks from 25+ other local producers from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire (and occaisional guest ciders from further afield!)

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News

Christmas Shopping at Dragon Orchard

Award Winning producers Once Upon a Tree open the doors to their Dragon Orchard shop selling their full range of ciders & apple juice and a selection of locally made gifts and produce.

Partner Hannah Day said: “Its time to celebrate so come along and chose a selection of cider for gifts or to accompany your Christmas meals from Turkey to Christmas pud! We have homemade preserves and local gifts available too, ready to create the prefect hamper. The shop is open every day between 10am and 3pm until 20th December, it’ll be great to see you.”

“Once Upon A Tree brings cider to the dinner table”, explains Hannah whose husband Simon has a background in wine production, “It was our intention at the outset of the company to make cider and perry that would accompany and enhance good food & to make ciders to savour! Simon uses his winemaking skills to capture the true characters of the apples in the juice and ciders which are presented in clear wine bottles with wine style labels to reinforce the message that these ciders are ideal to enjoy with food.”

The Day’s moved to Putley 9 years ago and teamed up with Ann & Norman Stanier whose Dragon Orchard has been in the family for 80 years. The first two harvests saw production of up to 10,000 bottles of cider, but they are currently finishing this years harvest which has seen a four-fold expansion in production. Once Upon A Tree produce is available at the new shop and from local retailers.

Our recently released Champagne method Chapel Pleck Sparkling Perry, is great for celebrating and our pudding cider, Blenheim Superb, is the first of its kind produced in the UK. We use ice-wine production processes, freezing the juice to give a sweet concentrated juice which is perfectly partnered with dessert.” Adds Hannah.

Coveted PGI status awarded to Once Upon a Tree.

<p><strong> </strong></p><p><img style="margin: 4px; float: right;" title="PGI-Logo" alt="PGI-Logo" src="/images/stories/PGI-Logo.png" width="119" height="119" />Herefordshire cider producers Once Upon A Tree are celebrating achieving PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status for their ciders with the release of their 2009 vintage Kingston Redstreak. This will be the first of many ciders from the Dragon Orchard estate to be released with the new accreditation.</p><blockquote><p>“<em>Being awarded PGI status absolutely guarantees our claims to be making cider using traditional methods with traditional cider apple varieties within Herefordshire,</em>" <strong>explains Cider Maker Simon Day </strong>“<em>it also means that the heritage and tradition of cider making in Herefordshire is brought to the attention of consumers. I hope it will bring interest back from the mass producers to the farm business and promote our local, rural economy in Herefordshire.</em>"</p></blockquote><p>The PGI accolade ensures that the ciders are made to strict rules and that they meet geographical and quality criteria. Only when they succeed in this process can they be named a Herefordshire Cider and join the elite group of designated products.</p><blockquote><p><em>“I’m delighted to say that in this new 2009 vintage the</em> <em>famous Kingston Black flavours come through really well, and are perfectly complimented by the Redstreak.</em>" <strong>says Simon </strong>"<em>It’s a medium-dry cider with a rich, spiced filled nose, a full body and a soft finish that fans of our 2008 vintage champion Kingston Black will love. </em>"</p></blockquote><p>Once Upon A Tree are now established in Herefordshire as quality cider producers, and consistently win awards for their ciders and perry. Their commitment to increase production reflects this success and the number of bottles produced for their 2009 vintage will see a four-fold increase on last year.</p><p>The launch of Kingston Redstreak coincides with the public “Grand Opening” of the NEW Once Upon A Tree Shop at Dragon Orchard, on the 31<sup>st</sup> July at 11am. Once Upon A Tree are celebrating the opening of the new, purpose built shop with free tastings of local produce, special discounts, and a free “Orchard Days” poetry walk around Dragon Orchard.</p><p>The ciders are also available via <a href="/index.php?amp;view=article&amp;id=49&amp;Itemid=27">mail order</a>, or through a <a href="/index.php?amp;view=article&amp;id=51&amp;Itemid=54">number of stockists</a>.</p>

Double Success at International Cider Competition!

Once Upon A Tree have gained two top awards at the International Cider and Perry Competition held last week at the Hereford Cider Museum.

First place for the Best Medium Cider was awarded to cider maker, Simon Day, for their 2009 “Kingston Redstreak” cider and another first place for the Best Single Variety Cider was awarded for their 2010 “Dabinett” cider.

I am very proud of both the Kingston Redstreak, and our new Dabinett ciders, and I’m particularly delighted to have received this recognition at this highly competitive and high profile competition" explains Cider Maker Simon Day “There are no great secrets to winning, we just happen to have one of the very best orchards providing us with the best quality fruit, it’s my job to preserve the quality in its transition to delicious cider!”

The 2009 Kingston Redstreak was launched last year and quickly became the company’s most popular cider. The 2010 Dabinett is yet to be released, and cider fans will have to wait a few weeks to get their hands on a finished bottle!

The 2010 ciders are a little delayed due to the incredibly cold winter and subsequent slow fermentations." adds Simon "However, this long maturation period has benefited the final quality of the cider in bottle!"

These awards follow previous success which saw the company awarded the coveted “Champion’s Cup” at the 2009 International Competition, and Highly Commended in the 2010 Flavours of Herefordshire Drinks Producer of the Year Award,

In 2011 the RHS in conjunction with Herefordshire Year in the Orchard held a competition to determine the best orchards in the county. Entries were received from a large number and wide variety of orchards and these were whittled down to a shortlist of 14. These were visited by a panel of experts including representatives from tree nurseries and wildlife groups, as well as orchards and the environment. The finalists were then judged by RHS apple expert Jim Arbury and the results announced at Hergest Croft, the home of the first ever female president of the RHS, Elizabeth Banks on Sunday October 16th.

When presenting Norman and Ann Stanier of Dragon Orchard with their Silver Gilt medal, Mrs Banks remarked that the orchard was an outstanding example of a family business run with great enthusiasm.

We’re delighted to receive this recognition from the RHS”, explained orchard owner Ann Stanier, “we take huge pride in running Dragon Orchard in a sustainable manner, maintaining strong community links through our Cropsharers Scheme and with great care for the environment and wildlife within the orchard and its boundaries.”

The orchard grows top quality cider and dessert fruit, welcomes visitors to the orchard and run its own Community Supported Agriculture Scheme and Shop. With its sister company Once Upon A Tree they have developed a fantastic range of apple juice, cider and perry and other produce using the fruit from the orchard.

Dragon Orchard is a great example of a Herefordshire Rural Business that links People, Place and Produce in a creative and innovative way.

Ann & Norman Receive their RHS Silver-Gilt Award from Elizabeth Banks, President of the RHS

The RHS Silver-Gilt award certificate.

Grand Opening for Once Upon A Tree

Although somewhat later than originally planned, we have finally managed to build and open our new orchard shop!

This weekend, the 31st July, we are having a "Grand Opening"day, and you are very welcome to come along for a welcome drink of cider or juice, and join us for a complementary "Orchard Days" poetry walk and tour through our orchards, where Norman will talk you through the growing season, punctuated with poems from the Orchard Days poetry book by Charles Bennet. There will be free tastings of Juice, Cider and Perry, as well as other Herefordshire produce.

As an extra incentive, we are offering:

10% discount on all Once Upon A Tree Cider, Perry, Juice and Preserves all weekend.